When did you pick up your paintbrushes and paint the canvas with strokes of your favourite colours last time? Did you find the time to finish the books you bought from the last boimela, or have they grown an inch of dust on them?
With study, work, chores, and crazy traffic, squeezing in time for hobbies has become almost impossible. Even with little free time, most people in this generation are either too tired or too busy to revive their hobbies. So they find comfort in mindless scrolling for instant gratification and lose their precious time and attention span - a vicious cycle. Is it even possible to rekindle a once creative person amidst the chaotic, packed schedule?
The so-called hustle culture has done a notorious job of embedding guilt in this generation if they try to dedicate time to anything that's not socially or economically 'productive'. There is always this pressure of striving for more materialistic gain that any recreational activity, like a hobby, feels rather useless than a time well spent.
Hence, prioritising and committing to hobbies might be easier if they are treated as a therapeutic mental break rather than a 'waste of time.' Strategically reorganising the existing schedule can make finding little windows of breaks easier amidst the hustle and bustle of life.
Dedicate an assigned block of time
Keeping assigned time for your hobbies in your schedule, even during the week, can be the first stepping stone. That way, you will have the mental space for your hobby beforehand and something to look forward to.
Kazi Anika Tabassum, currently a 4th-year student in the Statistics department at Comilla University, has little time for hobbies between classes and part-time jobs. However, she found making a to-do list the most helpful way.
"I keep some time aside for my hobbies in my to-do list no matter how packed my schedules are even during exams, work deadlines, and presentations. I strictly follow my routine, so it's easier for me to maintain hobbies as I planned," she said. Not bringing work to the assigned time and following the routine, as Anika does, will force you to take the break you truly deserve.
Don't wait for the weekends
A common mindset is to keep the weekends for hobbies. However, when the weekend finally arrives, you might find yourself running multiple errands that you have also been putting off during the week; even without the errands, you might just want to sleep in to recover from sleep deprivation. Instead of waiting until the weekends, finding little blocks of time during the week might make hobbies more effective.
Echoing the same tactic, Nafisa Rudba, an avid reader and artist from Dhaka University's Economics department, says, "I try to run all my errands and plan meet-ups during the weekend so that I never have to prioritise something else over my hobbies."
She also tries to keep Thursday night free for her hobbies since that is when she gets home without any rigid commitment the next day. In this way, Nafisa finished reading more than 60 books last year despite intense pressure from her university. Following her tips, keeping one afternoon or a couple of hours after dinner free for hobbies on a suitable weekday can be more effective.
Portable hobbies are easier to incorporate
If you are always on the go, choosing a hobby you can carry with you everywhere will be easier to incorporate into your schedule.
Tasfia Tahiat is a DU student and travels regularly from Uttara to Shahbag for her university, which takes up most of her time during the day. She barely has time to study after the long commute, so she can't commit to hobbies for a long time.
"I needed something refreshing no matter how hectic my schedules are. So, I started downloading episodes of my favorite anime or some of my favorite songs to enjoy while stuck in traffic. Now I look forward to the mental break I get on my commute, which helps me survive the hours of traffic," she says.
Carrying a pen and paper to doodle during the lunch break or downloading an audiobook or a podcast, an episode of your favourite series, or some of your favourite songs to listen to while you commute to work will also make you energised and more productive at your work.
Enjoy before monetising it
It might seem tempting to monetise your hobbies to earn some extra cash by doing something you love. While the idea is excellent, it might lead to further burnout as it becomes more of a commitment and responsibility. Monetising or starting a page dedicated to sharing your creations or hobbies can work only if you can commit to it on your terms rather than when your followers or customers want you to. If showcasing your hobbies online puts additional expectations, you might want to reconsider and keep your favourite activity for yourself only.
Control scrolling habit
If you want to divert your time from scrolling social media to your hobbies, try keeping your phone away. This strategy of prioritising your hobbies even when a notification or commitment suddenly comes up was vouched by Ahallya Padmoja Shreya, a 3rd-year student at DU.
This resident from Dhaka's Adabor area shares, "I think a mindset that's hard to maintain but works for me is the time I've set aside for myself can't go away even when a commitment pops up. There's always a little time left if you schedule well. And you need to prioritise yourself at times". She also tries to keep her phone away while prioritising her hobbies so that she can enjoy them without being stressed about another commitment.
However, for some people, laughing at memes and catching up on Instagram stories at the end of the day might be just as therapeutic as reading a book. Choose the activity that makes you happy and refreshed without letting any external force label it as right or wrong.
With the insane pressure of life imposed on people, it is more common than not to lose touch with activities that were once a part of you. However, reconnecting with hobbies by taking small breaks can prevent burnout from constantly being productive. It is never too late to pick up a book or a brush or find a new hobby and enjoy a breath of fresh air amidst the chaos.
© 2024 - All Rights with The Financial Express
